Communicating electric system.



No. 819,095. PATBNTED MAY 1, 1906, A. M. STARK. COMMUNICATING ELECTRIC SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER M. S"ARI OF TORONTO, CANADA, ASSICrNOR TO THE STARK ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LIMITED, OF TORONTO, CANADA, A CORPORA- TION OF ONTARIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 19( )6.

Application filed August 9, 1902. Serial No 119,128.

To It whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER McMAR'riN STARK, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada,

have invented a Communicating Electric System and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

In carrying out this invention I use apowercurrent transmitted over a main power-circuit and distributed at each substation to the substation main circuit to continuously furnish it with current for the instruments, and I maintain this power-current at constant tension by a storage battery bridged across the main power-circuit between the generator and substations.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and to the accompanying drawing, which represents a diagrammatic view of a complete system of distribution.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and draw ing.

(1 represents the generator-station, and b and 5 two substations connected with the generatorstation a by a three-wire circuit consisting of two main conductor-wires (Z and d and a main return-wire e. Tapping the main conductor-wire d and leading to the substation I) is the substation conductor-wire fin circuit with the substation return-wire 71, leading to the main returnwire e. Tapping 3 5 the substation conductor-wire f is the telephone conductor-Wire 'i, in circuit through the telephone-receiver j, transmitter It, and telephone return-wire 0 with the substation return-wire h, and interposed in the circuit 40 between the tap Z and receiverj is an inductive resistance m. The telephone-hook 1* is connected to the line-wire s, leading to the tip t of the plug a. The substation signaling device 10, having a contact-point is tapped on the substation return-wire h by the wire 10, and when the receiver is on the hook 1" the hook engages the contact-point q and a circuit for the current is established over the line-wire s from the central station, through the hook 1", contact-point g, substation signaling device 10, and wire w, to the substation returnwire h and main return-wire e.

In shunt to the telcphone-wire i is a contactpoint (i to be engaged by the telephone-hook 1", and when the receiver has been removed from the telephone-hook 1" the telephonehook engages the contact-point q, and the current then flows, by means of the main conductor-wire (Z, substation conductor-wire f, resistance m, telephone-wire p, contact-point g, telephone-hook 1*, and line-wire s, to the tip t of the plug 11 this current being also in the receiver and transmitter 7c by means of the telephone-wires 1' and 0 and substation return-wire h and main return-wire 6, so that telephone messages may be received and transmitted over the substation-circuit when the telephone-hook is in this position. A similar system of circuits is installed in the substation I).

Bridged on the main power-circuit is a storage battery 2 to aid in n'iaintaining constant pressure of the current as it circuits from the generator to the substations and to remove the effects of the imperfect commutation of the generator and destroy the individual vibrations of the current by a neutralization of the same. Connected with the jacket of the plug a and with the main return-wire e is the line return-wire]? to com- 8c pletc the circuit through the substation and central station from the conductor (Z to the main return-wire e. In the central station is a signal-relay 0, connected with the linewire 8 by the signal conductor-wire a and with the line return-wirej" by the signal return-wire 6. Then the substation desires to call the central station, the receiver is removed from the hook 1", which then engages the contact-point Q and completes the circuit for the current from the tap Z, through the re sistance 1n, contact-point q, telephone-hook 1", line-wire s, to the tip t of the plug 11 and through the relay 0, which it energizes, by means of the relay conductor-wire a and re- 5 turn-wire c.

In the central station is a battery g, the circuit of which is normally open and the conductor-wire h of which is connected to an armature 1", adapted to be attracted by the re- Ioo lay 0 when such relay is energized by the circuit of the current over the line-wire s and line return-wirej", as previously described. Opposed to the armature 1 is the contactpoint 9' of the signal o, having an armature m normally engaging the contact-point Z of the battery return-wire 7c, connected with the line r'eturnwire f and main return-wire e. WVhen the current circuits from the linewire .9 and relay conductor-wire a through the relay to the relay return-wire 6, line return-wire f and main return-wire e, the armature t is attracted to the contact-point j of the signal 12, and the armature m of the signal '0 being normally in engagement with the contact-point Z of the battery return-wire k the battery-current is sh0rt-circuited through the signal 12 actuating it to notify the opera-.

tor at the central station that the substation is calling. Tapped on the line return-wire f is the return-wire 0 of the second relay 1!), opposed to the armature m and connected with the springs s of the jacks t by the conductor-wire u, so that when the tip of the plug for the substation b is inserted in any one of the jacks t for the substation b it will engage the spring 8 and enable the current to establish a circuit from the jacket of such plug over the spring 8, conductor '11,, to the relay, which it energizes to attract the armature m from the contact-point Z and then flows over the relay return-wire 0 to the line return-wiref and main return-wire e to prevent the short-circuiting of the battery-current through the signal-lamp i) when the receiver at substation b is removed from the telephone-hook to establish a circuit for the current from the tap Z over the line-wire s and line return-wiref whenresponding to the call from the substation b. When the tip t of the plug u for the substation b is inserted in the jack 4 of the substation b, it engages the line-spring 4 of that jack in circuit with the line-wire 4 and establishes a circuit to the signaling device 4 which it operates until the receiveris removed from the telephonehook 4 when the circuit through the signaling device is broken and established over the contact-point 4 and its circuit-wire 4 to the telephone instruments 4 and 5 telephonereturn 4 and main return-wire e.

The disconnectsignal 'w is in circuit with the line return-wire f and is fitted with a spring at, having an insulated tip 2, normally resting against the plug u when the plug is in its seat. When the plug is pulled from its seat and inserted in one of the acks for the substation b, the spring ac moves against the contact-point a in circuit with the line-wire s, and the circuit of the current is then established by means of the line-wire 8, contactpoint (t spring m, disconnect-signal w, and the line return-wire f to the main returnwire e, the current continuing to flow over this circuit while the instruments in the calling-substation b are in use and until the receiverj has been again placed upon the telephone-hook r to bring it into en agement with the contact-point g and break the circuit of the current from the main conductor-wire d to the line-wire s, the breaking of which circuit effaces the'signal w.

In circuit with the conductor-wire h of the battery gis a battery conductor-wire a, fitted with a contact-point 1), adapted when actuated to engage the contact-point c of the branch wire '61 tapped on the line-wire s, and in circuit with the return-wire 7c of the battery g is a battery return-wire 6, connected with the receiver f of the operators instrument. The operators instrument is furnished with two wires g and h, respectively, in circuit with the battery return-Wire e and fitted with contact-points i and 7', respectively. The contact-point i is opposed to the contact-point of a branch wire k, tapped on the line-wire 8, while the contact-point j is opposed to the contact-point of the branch wire Z, tapped on the line return-Wire f. The contact-points t, j, and b are shown in their normal position in the drawing, and are brought into engagement with the contactpoints of the wires la and Z and d by the ordinary operating-lever used in telephone-exchanges. The current from the generator a is transmitted over the conductor-Wires d cl to the substations b b, and at the taps Zsulficient current is taken o'li the substation-circuits to operate the communicating systems.

Assuming that substation b desires to communicate with substation b, the operator at substation b removes the receiver from the telephone-hook r, so that the telephone-hook r will move into engagement with the contact-point g and establish a circuit for the current from the main conductor-wire d over the substation conductor-wire resistance m to the contact-point g and telephone-hook 1", from which it flows to the line-wire 8, relay conductor-wire a, relay 0, relay returnwire 6 to the line return-Wire f and main return-wire e, energizing the relay to attract the armature i and close the circuit of the battery 9 through the signal-lamp v. The operator at the central station by bringing the contact-points i and j into engagement with the contact-points of the branch wires 7c and Z, respectively, forms a circuit from the line-Wire 8 through the operators instrument at the central station to the line returnwire f and main return-Wire c, which puts the operators instrument in communication with the instrument at substation b, the current from the main conductor-wire d furnishing the current for the operation for both sets of instruments. The current from the conductor d is by means of the line-wire s in the tip of the plug to and in its jacket by means of the line return-wire f and main return-wire e, and when the operator inserts the plug it of the substation 1) into the jack 4 of the substation b the circuit of the current is then from the generator a to the plug to of the substation b and jack 4 signal 10 is broken.

of the substation I) over the line-spring 4 to the line-wire 4 telephonehook 4", signaling device 4, signal return-wire 4 telephone return-wire l, and main return-wire e. The resistance of the relay 0 exceeds the resistance of the instruments and wires for the substation b, so that when the plug for the substation I) is in the jack of the substation I) the current will flow from the plug to that jack and cut out the circuit through the relay 0, so that the armature 'i will move away from the contact-point of the signal 11 and open the circuit from the battery g to extinguish it When the plug a of the substation b is inserted in the jack l of the substation b, a portion of that current circuits by means of the spring 8', relay-conductor 14* to the relay 1)", relay return-wire 0" to the return line-wiref and main return-wire e, energizing the relay 1)" to attract the armature m, so as to open the circuit of the current from the battery 9 through the signal a to avoid any possibility of the signal c being lighted by the circuit of the current from the substation b when the receiver is removed from the telephone-hook at that substation.

When the receiver is removed from the telephone-hook at substation l), the circuit through the signaling device P is broken and is established over the contact-point 4 to the telephone instrument 4 and then over the telephone return-wire l to themain returnwire e. Substation b is now in communication with substation b, the generator a continuing to furnish the current for the operation of the instruments.

hen the plug it is lifted from its seat to be inserted in the jack 4, the calling substation spring '1 moves against the contact-point a and establishes a circuit from the generator a over the line-wire 3 through the disconnectsignal 10 to the line I'BlZLlIIl-VllBf, the spring 9; and contact-point a forming part of the plug-switch. W'hen the generator-circuit from substation b is broken by the receiver being hung on the telephone-hook r at substation b, the circuit through the disconnect- In the case of substation 6 desiring to speak to substation b the same modes operand i is put into force, the plug 3 being inserted by the operator into the jack 2. The current from the generator a is used for calling the wanted substation when making connections between the calling and called substations; yet when the operator desires to call a substation the contact-point b is brought into engagement with the contactpoint 0 and the current from the battery g circuits, by means of the battery-wire a, branch wire 1, line-wire s, hook r, signaling device 10, and wire w", to the telephone return-wire 0 and main.return-wire 6, operating the signaling device to until the substation responds by removing the receiver from the telephone-hook 1", when the circuit of the generater-current is established, by means ol" the hook 'r line-wire s, relay 0, and line returnwire f to the main return-wire e, energizing the relay 0 to attract the armature i to the contact-point j, causing the battery to shortcircuit through the signal n.

Then the circuit is established through the signal 12, the operator knows that the substation has responded and brings the contact-points *L and j" into engagement with the cont act-points of the branch wires 7c and Z, establishing the circuit between the operators and substation instruments over the line-wire s and line return-wire j", respec tively. \Vhen the contact-points i and 7' have been brought into engagement with the contact-points of the branch wires is and l, the current circuits from the generator (L over the linewire s, the wires 7r g, instrumentf, wires 71 Z to the line returnviref and main return-wire 0. hen the instruments are no longer n use, the circuit is broken by the contact-points i and j being disconnected from the contact-points of the wires k and Z. The operation of the lever which brings the contact-points i and j into engagement with the contact-points of the branch wires It and Z separates the contact-points I) and c and interrupts the normal circuit from the battery g to the linewire 8.

As shown in the drawing, there are three sets of jacks for each of the substations b b, respectively, these jacks beirg numbered 5, 6,and 7 ,respectively,and it will be noticed that the littespriirg o of each of the jacks is connected with the line-wire s and that the sock ets q of the jacks are coupled by means of the wires h.

The spring at" is connected with the wire it by means of the wire 1', and when the plug it is removed from-its socket the spring 00 engages the contact-point (L3 and the cur rent circuits from the line-wire s, by means of the spring 01;, wires i and 7L3, to the sockets q of the jacks of the substation b on the va rious switch boards and terminates in the sockets of the jacks, so that the sockets of all the jacks of the instruments in use will be furnished with battery-current.

\Vhen the contact-points i and j of the telephone-operators instrument are brought into engagement with the branch wires 7c and Z of a substatioil-circuit, the circuit of the current is established between the telephone-operator"s rece ver and the socket of the substation-jack, and by placing the tip of the plug against the socket (1 of the jack the operator can ascertain whether the line is in use or not. If the current above described is in the socket of the jacks, it will produce a metallic click in the telephoreoperators receiver each time the tip of the plug touches the socket ot the jack.

The contact-springs s of the jacks of the signal device tapped on the other substation b are all in circuit with the conductor-Wire a in order that the insertion of the tip t of the plug it in any one of the jacks will establish a circuit to energize the relay p and so are the contact-springs of the jacks of the substation b in circuit with the conductor-wire a for the relay 1!) to allow of the insertion of a plug of the substation b in any one of the jacks establishing a circuit to energize the relay 1).

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric system comprising a main circuit, a substation-circuit in shunt thereto, an auxiliary circuit, a line-signal in the auxiliary circuit, a relay responsive to the substation-circuit adapted when energized to close the auxiliary circuit through the linesignal, a second substationcircuit and a second relay responsive to the second substation-circuit when connected with the firstmentioned substation-circuit and adapted when energized to open the batterycircuit through the line-signal.

2. An electric system comprising an auxiliary circuit, a line-signal in the auxiliary circuit, a substation-circuit, a relay responsive to the substation-circuit adapted when energized to close the central-station auxiliary circuit through the line-signal, a second substation-circuit, and a second relay responsive to the second substation-circuit when connected with the first-mentioned substationcircuit and adapted when energized to open the central-station auxiliary circuit through the line-signal.

3. An. electric system comprising a substation-circuit, a line-signal closing circuit in shunt to the substation-circuit, an auxiliary circuit, a line-sigral in the auxiliary circuit, the auxiliary circuit being closed through the line-signal by the circuit of the current through the line-signal closing circuit, a second substati on-circui t, and aline-signal opening circuit formed by connecting the second substation-circuit with the first-mentioned substation-circuit.

4. An electric system comprising a substation-circuit, a line-signal closing circuit tapped on the substation-circuit, an auxiliary circuit, a line-signal through which the auxiliary circuit is closed by the circuit of the current through the line-signal closing circuit, and a line-signal opening circuit formed by the closing of two substation-circuits.

5. An electric system comprising a substation-circuit, a connecting-plug and a series of jacks in the substation-circuit, and a disconnect-signal in shunt to the substation-circuit comprising a contact-point tapped on one of the conductors of the substation-circuit, a conductor and a contact-spring for the signal device to engage the contact-point and close the circuit through the signal device when the plug is lifted from its seat and an insulator for the switch to engage the connecting-plug when in its seat and open the circuit through the signal device.

6. An electric system comprising a substation-circuit, a connecting-plug anda series of jacks in the substation-circuit and a disconnect-signal in shunt to the substation-circuit comprising a contact-point tapped on one of the conductors of the substation-circuit, a signal device tapped on the other conductor and a contact-spring for the signal device to engage the contact-point and close the circuit through the signal device when the plug is lifted from its seat, an insulator for the switch to engage the connecting-plug when in its seat and open the circuit through the signal device, and a conductor from the switch to the substation-jacks.

7. An electric system comprising a substation-circuit, a connecting-plug in the substation circuit, a disconnect signal tapped on one of the conductors of the substation-circuit, a contact point tapped on the other conductor of the substation-circuit, a switch for the disconnect-signal displaced from the contact-point by the connecting-plug when in its seat, a spring-jack in the substation-circuit and an electric conductor from the disconnect signal switch to the line spring of the jack.

8. An electric system comprising a main circuit havinga storage battery therein, a substation-circuit connected with the main circuit, a line-signal closing relay in the substation-circuit, an auxiliary circuit having an armature controlled by the relay, a line-signal through which the auxiliary circuit is closed when the armature has responded to the relay, a second substation-circuit, a linesignal opening relay energized by the second substation-circuit when connected with the first-mentioned substation-circuit, and an ar mature for the line-signal responsive to the second-mentioned relay to open the battery circuit through the linesignal.

9. An electric system comprising a main circuit having a storage battery therein, a substation-circuit connected with the main circuit, a line-signal opening relay, a series of jacks in the substation-circuit, the linesprings of which are connected with the linewire of the substation-circuit and the sockets of which are coupled together and the contact-springs of which are in circuit with the return-wire of the substation-circuit through the line-signal opening relay, a line-signal having an armature adapted to be attracted by the line-signal opening relay as the current flows through it, a line-signal closing relay connected with the substation-circuit, an auxiliary circuit having an armature responsive to the line-signal closing relay to close the auxiliary circuit through the line-signal,

ICO

a connecting-plug in the substation-circuit, a d1sconnect-s1gnal on one of the conductors of the substation circuit having a conductor- 1 spring displaced by the plug when in its seat, a contact-point opposed to the conductor spring and connected with the other conductor of tile substation-circuit to be engaged by the conductor spring when the plug is removed from its seat.

10. '1 electric system comprising a main circuit having a storage battery therein, a substation-circuit connected with the main circuit, a line signal opening relay, a series of jacks in the substation-circuit, the linesprings of which are connected with the linewire of the substation-circuit and the sockets of which are coupled together and the contact-springs of which are in circuit with the return-wire of the substation-circuit through the line-signal opening relay, 'a line-signal having an armature adapted to be attracted by the line-signal opening relay as the current flows through it, a linesignal closing relay connected with the substation-circuit, an auxiliary circuit having an armature responsive to the line-signal closing relay to close the auxiliary circuit through the line-signal, a connecting-plug in the substation-circuit, a disconnect-signal on one of the conductors of the substation circuit having a conductorspring displaced by the plug when in its seat, a contact-point opposed to the conductorspring and connected with the other conductor of the substation-circuit to be engaged by the conductor-spring when the plug is removed from its seat, and a conductor connected to the conductor-spring and the sock ets for the acks.

Toronto, May 23, A. D. 1902.

ALEX. M. STARK.

In presence 01'' O. H. Rlcnns, L. F. BROOK. 

